Interesting Facts About Latin America You Should Not Miss

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Interesting Facts About Latin America You Should
Not Miss

• By - The Spanish Group

www.thespanishgroup.org
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• Latin America is rich in history, culture, and
  some of the world's most wondrous natural
  attractions. From ancient civilizations to
  vibrant modern cities, this diverse and
  fascinating region continues to captivate the
  world with many interesting facts about Latin
  culture, including the following.
• Fun Facts About Latin America Detailed Overview
• People Speak More Than 370 Languages
• Latin Americans speak upwards of 370 different
  languages a testament to the continents
  remarkable linguistic diversity. While the vast
  majority of Latin Americans speak Spanish and
  Portuguese, countless indigenous languages are
  still in use.
• And whether youre in the Quechua highlands of
  the Andes or the Guarani savannas of Paraguay,
  each language tells a unique story recognizable
  by the distinct people who speak it. This
  linguistic tapestry contributes to the robustness
  and richness of Latin American cultures in a
  myriad of ways, fostering the great sense of
  identity and community felt all across the region.

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• Land of Peaks and Valleys
• From towering peaks to lush valleys, Latin
  America's landscapes are a masterpiece of
  dramatic contrasts. This is one of the world's
  most stunning regions, thanks to nature's
  penchant for the fantastic. The Andes rivals the
  world's great ranges, reaching over 7,000
  kilometers along the western edge of South
  America.
• Meanwhile, the fertile valleys and lowlands
  cradle every manner of city, farm, and delicate
  rainforest. The fertility of these low-lying
  lands is not only the habitat of countless
  creatures, from monkeys to jaguars, but also the
  stage upon which millions make their lives and
  heat their homes with resources that rely on this
  deep connection between heights and depths.
• Hidden Treasures in the Amazon
• One of the world's last great wilderness areas,
  the Amazon Rainforest in Latin America, teems
  with life, with over 10 of the world's known
  species inhabiting the region. Countless
  treasures await to be uncovered amid its dense
  foliage, ranging from plants that hold the key to
  new medical treatments to undiscovered animal
  species.
• The region's rich ecosystems regulate the Earth's
  climate and provide us with many other essential
  services, such as clean air and water.

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• Ancient Mayan Civilization
• The Mayans flourished in Mexico, Guatemala,
  Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, leaving a
  legacy of astonishing achievements in the
  sciences and arts astronomy, mathematics, and
  architecture.
• At its peak between 250 and 900 A.D., the Mayan
  civilization built large cities with magnificent
  pyramids, statuary, palaces, and observatories
  that rivaled those worldwide. They developed an
  advanced system of writing using hieroglyphics
  and a precise calendar system to compete that of
  any in the ancient world.
• Worlds Largest Salt Flats
• The largest salt flats in the world are located
  in Latin America, specifically the Salar de Uyuni
  in Bolivia. Encompassing over 10,000 square
  kilometers, this enormous expanse of salt crust
  is an alien landscape as far as the eye can see.
  The Salar de Uyuni is a major salt source, and
  the lithium, a vital component in modern
  technology of the world, can be found beneath its
  salt crust.
• During the rainy season, a thin layer of water
  turns the flats into a giant mirror, reflecting
  the sky and the mountains that line it, creating
  surreal, perfectly bisected landscapes. Its a
  sight unlike any other for the lucky few who see
  it in person.

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• Aztec Floating Gardens
• The Aztecs - who once controlled a thriving
  empire in what's now Mexico - inherited Lake
  Texcoco's swamplands and shallow waters and
  wielded their knack for creativity, construction
  and irrigation to devise man-made islands, or
  "chinampas."
• The Aztecs chipped away at the reeds and mud in
  the lake bed, created large rafts, layered them
  with mud from the lake, fortified the resulting
  base with more reeds, and planted them with
  willows and other natural vegetation.
• Pink Dolphins Aura
• In the rivers of the Amazon rainforestespecially
  the Amazon and Orinoco Riversswims a unique
  animal, the pink river dolphin, also known as the
  boto. While it is famous for its vibrant pink
  coloration, it is even better known for its
  presence in local folklore. Stories of these
  dolphins describe them as shape-shifters who can
  turn into humans at night and seduce unsuspecting
  villagers.
• Pink dolphins have a reputation of magical
  creatures. They have inspired the Amazonian
  communities' stories, rituals, and conservation
  efforts.

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• Aztec Floating Gardens
• The Aztecs - who once controlled a thriving
  empire in what's now Mexico - inherited Lake
  Texcoco's swamplands and shallow waters and
  wielded their knack for creativity, construction
  and irrigation to devise man-made islands, or
  "chinampas."
• The Aztecs chipped away at the reeds and mud in
  the lake bed, created large rafts, layered them
  with mud from the lake, fortified the resulting
  base with more reeds, and planted them with
  willows and other natural vegetation.
• Pink Dolphins Aura
• In the rivers of the Amazon rainforestespecially
  the Amazon and Orinoco Riversswims a unique
  animal, the pink river dolphin, also known as the
  boto. While it is famous for its vibrant pink
  coloration, it is even better known for its
  presence in local folklore. Stories of these
  dolphins describe them as shape-shifters who can
  turn into humans at night and seduce unsuspecting
  villagers.
• Pink dolphins have a reputation of magical
  creatures. They have inspired the Amazonian
  communities' stories, rituals, and conservation
  efforts.

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• Latin America Is Urbanized
• With most of the continents population living
  in cities, Latin America is one of the most
  urbanized regions in the world. Megacities like
  São Paulo, Mexico City and Buenos Aires are a
  heady collision of culture, commerce, and ethos.
• And even larger urban populations have joined
  them in cities like Bogotá, Colombia, and Lima,
  Peru places once off the well-worn tourist
  trails and now vibrant with cultural exchange. It
  has also led to ever greater street life while
  infusing these cityscapes with various
  architectural styles.
• Rain of Fishes
• The rain of fishes is a fascinating rare
  weather phenomenon in certain parts of Latin
  America, most commonly in Yoro, Honduras. Each
  year, between May and July, coinciding with the
  regions rainy season, locals are treated to a
  spectacle where fish appear to fall from the sky
  during heavy rainstorm.
• Residents of this region have observed the event
  for centuries, and multiple hypotheses have been
  made to explain exactly how it works. One of the
  most substantiated theories for the origin of
  this unusual weather occurrence has to do with
  strong winds or waterspouts, which may pull small
  fish out of the water in one body of water,
  transport them overland, and then drop them
  alongside the raindrops from the storm cell that
  is passing over.

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• Rich in Cultural Diversity
• Latin Americas cultural diversity is the
  product of a complex history that includes
  indigenous civilizations, European colonization,
  African slavery, and waves of immigration. Out of
  these influences evolved a rich tapestry of
  traditions, language, music, dance and cuisine
  that varies dramatically from country to country
  and even from one region to another.
• Latin America's cultural heritage is revered and
  cherished, from the dazzling celebrations of
  Carnival in Brazil to the age-old rituals of the
  Andean people. It is an integral part of its
  peoples sense of identity and pride, and
  permeates every aspect of their daily lives.
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